In the Midst of Suffering (Part 4)

Hebrews 12:4-8

4 In your struggle against sin, you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood.  5 And have you completely forgotten this word of encouragement that addresses you as a father addresses his son?  It says, "My son do not make light of the Lord's discipline, and do not lose heart when he rebukes you, 6 because the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and he chastens everyone he accepts as his son."  7 Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as his children.  For what children are not disciplined by their father?  8 If you are not disciplined - then you are not legitimate, not true sons and daughters at all.

Suffering.  Discipline.  These are two words that none of us like to hear or to experience.  Most of us probably have negative memories of these two words.  However, when you take the time to understand what suffering is and what discipline is, you can begin to appreciate the suffering and the discipline in your life.  Why does suffering exist in this world?  Suffering is a result of our sin.  Suffering can come to us in two ways.  Suffering can come to us in trials.  Trials are the INDIRECT result of all sin in our world.  In other words, when we are suffering through trials it is still a result of sin, but it not directly tied to our personal sin.  For example, Job suffered through trials that God allowed in his life.  God allowed Satan to attack Job in several ways.  Job suffered.  Joseph suffered through trials that God allowed in his life.  Joseph was sold into slavery by his brothers.  He was taken from his father and his home and placed in Egypt.  When Joseph was in Egypt he was falsely accused of physically assaulting Potiphar's wife.  He was sent to Pharaoh's prison.  However, we must remember that God allows us to suffer through trials for our GOOD and for His GLORY.  Look at what happens with Job in the midst of suffering.  He worships God; He repents of his own sin; and He is blessed with God's presence.  Look at what happens with Joseph in the midst of suffering.  He remains faithful to God; God continues to bless Joseph no matter where he is and no matter the circumstances.  Yes, God will allow us to go through trials...intense suffering...but for good purposes.

Discipline is a form of suffering God uses in our lives, as well.  Discipline is the DIRECT result of our personal sin against God.  When we suffer through discipline it is directly tied to our own sin.  Moses is known as "the deliverer."  We know how Moses led the Hebrews out of Egypt and toward the Promise Land, but we also know that Moses sinned before God.  Moses disobeyed God by striking the rock twice instead speaking to it; Moses was disciplined by God.  He was not allowed to lead the Israelites into the land God would give them (Numbers 20:12).  David is known as "a man after God's own heart."  We know how David stood before the giant when no one else would; he killed the giant with a sling and a stone.  We also know that David sinned before God.   The Bible tells us that David despised God's Word and took Uriah's life and his wife; David was disciplined by God.  David's household experienced death by the sword from that time forward (2 Samuel 12:10).  Discipline is painful.  Discipline is a form of suffering.  However, when you read Hebrews 12:4-8, you can see that discipline is a form of suffering that God uses to bring us GOOD and to bring Him GLORY, just like suffering through trials.  

Many people confuse punishment and discipline when it comes from God's hand.  The Holman Bible Dictionary explains the difference: "Divine discipline is distinct from God's judgment or punishment.  While God's judgment and punishment are meted out on the unrighteous, God's discipline is reserved only for His children."  Discipline in your life from the hand of God is a GOOD thing!  When you look at Hebrews 12, you understand that God only disciplines His children.  God only disciplines His children, and it is an act of His great love.  Hebrews 12:8 is very clear: if we are not experiencing discipline from the hand of God in our lives due to our sin, then we are not true children of God.  So as the writer of Hebrews encourages you, I want to encourage you, as well.  ENDURE HARDSHIP AS DISCIPLINE.  When it comes to godly discipline, the goal is repentance and renewal.  Acts 3:19 says, "Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord."  And again, God uses all suffering - trials and discipline - for our GOOD and for His GLORY.  He can and will bring peace, joy, and ultimately, sanctification to us in the midst of suffering.  If you are suffering through a trial allowed by God, be thankful and rely on God.  If you are suffering through discipline, be thankful and rely on God.  He will never leave you.  He will never quit on you.  God is FOR you, not AGAINST you.  

In the Midst of Suffering (Part 3)

Job 1:20-22

20 At this, Job got up and tore his robe and shaved his head.  Then he fell to the ground in worship 21 and said: "Naked I came from my mother's womb, and naked I will depart.  The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away; may the name of the Lord be praised."  22 In all this, Job did not sin by charging God with wrongdoing.

One of the best days of my life was on June 10, 1996.  On that beautiful day our daughter, Hillary Noble Thomas, was born.  She was a true gift from God.  Everything about her was perfect to me, especially those big brown eyes!  Hillary was our first child.  She was the first grandchild for both of our families.  It is amazing to me that God chose me to be her father on this earth.  We went crazy as first-time parents, buying clothes and toys and books.  It was a special time for all of us.  However, our little Hillary passed away of a brain tumor on November 6, 1996.  In just over five months I went from experiencing one of the best days of my to experiencing one of the worst days of my life.  Those of you who have lost a child or children know the suffering that I am talking about.  It changed me then.  It is still changing me today.

Over the past few weeks I've been preaching a series entitled, In the Midst of Suffering.  Oh what I would give to know then what I know now!  What I know now is that God allows suffering in our lives, but He uses suffering for our good and for His glory.  Ultimately, I believe God uses the suffering in our lives as part of the sanctification process - making us more like Jesus in every way.  It's not about what I feel; it's about what I know.  Suffering is going to happen in this life.  It is going to happen often.  Suffering exists in our world because of sin.  Sin has broken us and broken our world; therefore, we suffer.  Sometimes the suffering comes through discipline; this type of suffering is a direct result of my personal sin.  Sometimes, though, suffering comes through trials; this type of sin is an indirect result of all sin.  Our response to suffering will make all the difference in our lives, even in the lives of those we know and interact with.  

Job is a man who suffered.  As we see in the book of Job, he suffered through trials - an indirect result of all sin.  Job 1 tells us that Satan roamed the earth looking for someone to devour.  God tells us that Job was a blameless and upright man, that there was no one else like him on earth.  Job feared God and shunned evil.  Nowhere in the book of Job or in the Bible does it say Job was perfect.  He was not.  He was a sinner who needed to be rescued and to be redeemed by God through Jesus Christ, just like every person who has ever lived, is living, or will live.  However, God allowed Satan to bring suffering upon Job.  Job 1 tells us that in a matter of hours Job lost his servants, his animals, and all of his sons and daughters.  It is quite possible, no one has ever suffered like Job, apart from Jesus.  In the midst of suffering, what was Job's response?  Job responded by WORSHIPING and PRAISING God (Job 1:20-22).  It doesn't saying he was laughing or having a good time; it doesn't say he wasn't worried or wasn't hurting.  I have to assume that Job was hurting in his mind, in his body, and most definitely in his spirit.  However, Job did not sin against God by cursing Him or assigning Him blame.  Rather, Job honored God by WORSHIPING Him and PRAISING Him.  A little later, Satan went after Job again.  God allowed Satan to bring suffering upon Job's body, but Satan could not kill Job.  After these painful sores covered his body from head to toe, Job's wife and friends told him to "curse God and die."  The assumption during this time was that if something bad was happening to you it was because you did something wrong to God.  Job resisted the temptation to sin by cursing God or assigning blame to God.  Job continued to trust God.  Did he have questions?  Did he want answers?  Absolutely.  He went to God with his questions.  Did God give him the answer he wanted?  Well, actually, no.  God didn't give Job a reason or an answer for his suffering.  God gave Job something better; God gave Job the best gift: God gave Job Himself, His powerful and loving presence.  Job did have bitterness in his heart; Job did curse the day that he was born.  However, when God gave Job His presence, Job repented of his sin, and he moved forward in his relationship with God with trust.

I wish I could say that I responded the way Job did in the midst of suffering.  When Hillary died, I tried to look good for everybody who was watching.  However, I was bitter.  My bitterness poured over into my relationship with God and eventually my relationship with my wife and everyone else.  In the midst of my suffering, I wanted answers and reasons from God more than I wanted God Himself.  It took me a long time to move forward.  It took me a long time to get to that place of WORSHIP and PRAISE for God.  It took me a long time to embrace those words of Job: "Naked I came from my mother's womb, and naked I will depart.  The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away; may the name of the Lord be praised."  In all of that time, God never left me; God never forsook me.  He was always there.  I thank God for His love, His grace, and His mercy.  I thank God for never giving up on me, even though I have given up on Him countless times.  Through repentance and faith in Jesus, I am His child, and I am forgiven and freed from sin...the bondage and the penalty.  Does that mean the suffering went away or that the suffering won't come anymore.  No.  The suffering is all around me.  Sometimes it is discipline, a direct result of my personal sin.  Sometimes it is a trial, an indirect result of all sin.  But what I know today is that God is FOR me and not AGAINST me.  What I know today is that God didn't take the suffering away, but rather God uses the suffering in my life for my GOOD and for His GLORY!  When I choose to view suffering through the lenses of God's Word, it makes all the difference in my response.  It makes all the difference in my life.  Has God ever given me a reason why Hillary had to die at five months old of a brain tumor?  No.  Will He give me a reason.  Maybe, but He doesn't have too.  God's already given me something better;  God's already given me His best.  He's given me Himself.  Today I worship You, Father!  Today I praise You, Father!  Thank You for Your great love for me and for Your purposes and plans (even those of suffering) that are greater than any I could ever dream or have for myself.  And thank You for Hillary and the blessing she was and always will be to us.  Amen.